Gaudete Sunday

 As we are in the third Sunday of advent- Gaudete Sunday. 'I exult for joy in the Lord', for even if the life is miserable at times. Today on 13th of December, we honour St Lucy, means light, one of the beautiful feast during advent. Prepared some braided rolls and cinnamol rolls for the breakfast by Annu. St Lucy's story was read and it is reminded of how much we should also be light to others in reflecting the true light of Christ. Just planning to go and visit lights today as we were doing in previous years.

Braided roll which made out of ready made soft pastry. Often the privilege of older girls to bring tea and little boys can be star boys. St Lucy day is extremely popular in Sweden....

     

Along with that baked some cinnamon rolls for the breakfast.

 Three strips are cut and braided , added chocolate drops to give a flavour and iced on top. Served hot and yummy. It was great day with so many blessings from above.  Reebs n Tijo visited my parents which was a Godsend experience to us during lockdown.  There were a few opportunities to share His love in our lives with young children and young couples.

On 12th of Dec,  we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadulupe- Some of the things did together. There was children's hour as part of advent. Some of the resources borrowed from catholic inspired and sadlier religion. Just went through the beautiful meaning of the Tilma, sun rays behind her, ribbon around her waist, standing on moon, angel is holding her on her shoulder indicating aztec culture of carrying king or queen on shoulder.

           Old canvas painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

                                Prepared Mary with play dough ..some used salt dough too. It was lot of fun and learning making Mary on her feast day for the nativity scene.

Continuing the spirit of advent journey...

Feast of Immaculate conception

 Today 8th of December, celebrating the beautiful feast of Immaculate conception, not to  be confused as conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary....Immaculate- spotless/clean /innocent....Conception-conceived. So in other words, the Feast is all about the reminder of Mary is protected from sin even from the very first moments of her conception in her mother's womb..As you look at Liturgical calendar, Mary is conceived in St Anne's womb, following 9 months is Mary's birthday on September 8th.

God prepared Mary's soul to be worthy of being the mother of God.She is often referred as New eve without sin just like Eve was, but Mary was obedient and willing to follow God's will and trusting Him throughout her life.

There are so many beautiful ways to celebrate the day.

1. Attending  Holy Mass and say a small prayer , as this is a Solemnity. Light a candle and pray for someone in need today through Mary our mother too. Or to visit a Marian shrine if nearby.

2. If not,attend the virtual mass and a special day to read out  a book for children on Mary or for yourself....ie..Story of St Bernadette, Fatima children,Our lady of Guadalupe....Probably say an extra decade or a mystery if you can with your children. 

3.Something to do or practice a virtue. Practice learning the word from scriptures...'Rejoice,so highly favoured Lady,..The Lord is with you..'.Luke 1;28.

4. Craft or art can be excellent for this day. Themassbox has a little craft, to make a Marian grotto craft and some word search ,maze....or Catholic icing has a beautiful coloring page explaining Immaculate conception with an amazing illustration.A feltcraft can be made too. 

A Christmas ornament to do on this day to hang on your Christmas tree, make sure you have some old Christmas cards ready to cut and stick it using mod podge. Our kids used it a while ago .

..

5.Great day to watch CCC movie titled 'Bernadette-The princess of Lourdes'. This kids version is available in FORMED.

6. Every feast day has something to do with a yummy delicious treat to serve or make. Have fun with some white treats. The feast is reminded of sinless/purity of Mary. Enjoy the day with vanilla ice cream or a desert with a puffy cream...which I gonna try later today.

7.Here is a beautiful resource explaining the doctrine to teach children about the Feast.

 'O Mary who conceived without original sin pray for us who have recourse to you' .

A December memoir

 Getting bit lazy in blogging these days. Caught up with my new passion in Homeopathy. Reading, knowing, exploring the new amazing world, got my License to practise as a homeopath, still in learning process. As a family we have been using homeopathy for more than 16 years which we inherited through mummy. 

  Thought to put down a few words today morning as it is Feast of St Nicholas, which children always enjoy at home with gifts and sweets..I am glad that the churches are open back after one month lock down and looking forward to attend Holy Mass on second Sunday of advent. Kids are lighting the second candle of advent- Peace. I am sure its a privilege for little ones especially for Geo, everything is new in his memories to register. We have our new parish priest joining back today.

Things hung and ready to enjoy on the feast

     Opening stuffs

     

     Roast for Lunch

Some of the old posts from previous years.. There are some beautiful resources for kids to do. Another beautiful feast which reminds us to serve others, poor and needy. Planning to gather old and good toys with the help of children and  to donate when time permits.

Some of our days last a few weeks leading to advent; other feasts and treats over last few weeks. Days in and out. Advent wreath is decorated by Geo and Theresu, coloured with melted crayons, some coniferous foliage from our garden with my collection of cones.

We were out sometime to play football

On the feast of St Francis Xavier, just got a chance to bake a quick cake to share someone. Praying for all missionary movements.

        Making cards for grandparents 

Time pass ....

Mary queen of Scotland

'The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith and this is not our giving '

Happy Feast of St Nicholas

Season of Advent

 Advent is the season of waiting, of anticipation- birth of Christ child into our world. It is also a time for the anticipation of Christ's second coming.

As part of the season, a lot of ways  we can celebrate within the family and around esp during the struggle times of pandemic too.

Activities,preparations,charity,songs, play, crafts/making ornaments,following the traditions both at home and out. Season of penance and preparation before Christmas. 

Think ahead advent in two phases; first one is waiting time..Lord is coming. Second phase is from 17th Dcember- O antiphons begin ..or after Gaudatte Sunday..speeds up everything indicating the Lord is near, decors, preparations going fast, things started rolling fast for the Christmas..

Below is the 25 advent activities to do printable which we made after long time.

JESSE TREE

Jist like our Christmas tree, Jesse tree has beautiful decors. But instead of lights and stars, it has the promises that God made to us and to His people, out of love.The tree is named after Jesse, the father of David. Reminded of Isaiah 11: 1 promise of 'A shoot will  spring forth from the root of Jesse..'. For Jesse tree printables and colouring pages

ADVENT WREATH

We begin the advent week with lighting Advent wreath candle just before  family share meal together. The color of the candle is purple and we are reminded of  'HOPE'. You see around with colours of royalty, waiting for the banquet. As you light the candle,you can either say advent wreath prayers of the week or sing the verses of carol all together. Then two for second week and so on. Gaudete is the third Sunday- rose coloured candle is lit and the week of JOY. We could have a foretaste of Christmas fare. The lights on the wreath are symbolic: Christ is our light...'A light to lighten the gentiles..'.Family prayers during advent could be around wreath.

First week readings and everywhere purple reflecting royalty, preparing for banquet. Second week is best man getting ready, listen to readings of St John. Then third week, bride is nearly ready  .

ADVENT SAINTS

Some of the saints of advent is an extra special days to celebrate on this period leading up to Christmas.

St Nicholas, St Francis Xavier, St Lucy , Feast of Immaculate conception are some among it to make special. Links to the feasts are provided in the above printable

ADVENT BASKET

Some of the books for advent basket;

Waiting for Christmas

Christmas fairy

The legend of St Nicholas

The Attic saint 

A wish to be Christmas tree 

The bears Christmas surprise

Lucua- Saint of Light

Bambinelli Sunday

Hannah's Christmas. 

The Christmas cobwebs

The miracle of Christmas

Tale of three trees

A Christmas truce

The suppliers are eden books, cenacle books, redemptoris publications, st Paul's book store...

A few other traditions to incoorporate:

Stir up Sunday

The first Sunday of advent us stir-up Sunday..Everyone can take a turn at stirring Christmas pudding. There are variations to this. Also time to prepare your mincemeat upfront.

Some of the posts from archives 2014, 2016.

       HAVE A BLESSED SEASON OF ADVENT

Birthdays at home

It was Jobychayan's 45th birthday and as usual we planned ahead what to do. However pandemic stopped going out. We thought to do what he likes..getting up, changing night clothes and stuffs...Everyone's card is ready, Mich made a cup of tea, Geo woke up and wished. 

              Card from Theresu

                                     Birthday boy

                 Geo's crown which made for Card by Munnu trying to achieve 3d effect, portrait of Jobychaya.

  Prepared some special meals and watched a lovely movie. Thank God for Jobychayan and all the blessings we received through him.

.Remembrance Sunday...Memories of Flander fields

All these days of November, to enjoy the final glow of the Autumn leaves as they crunch and squish beneath our feet. Annual Remembrance Sunday in Britian today , which reminds all those who fought in the wars relentessly and the month where church invites everyone to pray for the dead.

Today on the Remembrance Sunday, with little kiddos, poppy badge were made with cardstock and did some art work with red and green tissue paper , made a war field on remembrance  Sunday. Later on for a small walk in Southern cemetery and paid a visit to the tomb of our former parish priest and some parishioners. We watched the Remembrance Sunday parade in bbc one and observed two minute silence. Remembering toils, sacrifices and darkest days of all the soldiers in the trenches and marsh lands. 

   

        Making poppy badge

    Flanders fields with poppies and the soldiers 

     

    War memorial in Southern Cemetery 

Some of the wordsearch and unscramble of the day and read the poem Flanders fields...

Last few days were of mini bike rides, strolls and footy as usual. Some were busy with exam preps too. Back again with full lock down , theresu 's football club paused, no H Mass.. everything became stagnant  again. ..hopefully not for long. However, just enjoying our neighbourhoods and its blessings these days.

    Beautiful scene from Southern cemetry